Career Center

Lawrence Academy is a co-educational day and boarding school for students in grades 9 through 12, located on a 135-acre campus in Groton, MA, just 31 miles northwest of Boston. Founded in 1793, Lawrence Academy (also known as LA) enrolls approximately 400 students from the United States and overseas. With 75 teaching faculty, the student-to-teacher ratio is 5:1, and the average class size at LA is between 8 and 16 students. LA enjoys its heritage as one of the oldest independent schools in the country while embracing a contemporary student-centered approach that supports its mission: “Lawrence Academy recognizes you for who you are, inspires you to take responsibility for who you want to become, supports you as you learn, and empowers you to take action for the greater good.” In LA’s tightly knit environment, students are supported and encouraged to exercise their minds, discover their voices, learn creatively, and take their own initiative. The academic program is uniquely hands-on and allows students to discover how their education can be applied in daily life.

Summary:

Lawrence Academy seeks an Associate Director of College Counseling for the 2024-2025 school year. Candidates should be eager to work in a collaborative office setting that includes four college counselors and one office assistant. Successful candidates will have the desire and capacity to participate fully in all aspects of a vibrant boarding school community. This is a 10-month, full-time, benefits eligible, administrative position. Some weekend hours are required for college-related programming in addition to normal boarding school weekend duties. LA offers a competitive benefit package that includes standard school vacations.

Responsibilities:

• Student College Advising: Work in collaboration with the College Counseling Office in the continued development of our college counseling program by:
  • Counseling students individually on the college search and application process, including self-exploration, academic planning, goal-setting, self-advocacy, and application review; and,
  • Leading monthly college counseling classes and workshops for juniors and seniors.
• Counselor Recommendation Writing: Write detailed counselor recommendation letters for senior counselees.
• Constituency Education: Assist the College Counseling Office in educating parents, students, faculty, administrators, and trustees regarding all aspects of the college application process—including on the use of Scoir, our web-based counseling software and College Kickstart —through presentations, conversations, and written communications.
• Project Leadership: Direct specific programs, projects, and initiatives as identified by the Director of College Counseling, including research and communications efforts.
• Relationship Building:
  • Consult regularly with college admissions representatives on current practices and admissions trends.
  • Advocate on behalf of student applicants through phone conversations, email interactions, attendance at conferences, participation in campus visitation programs/fly-ins, and hosting college admissions representatives on campus.
• Professional Development: Pursue opportunities for professional growth and school exposure through participation in professional organizations such as the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), the Boston-area Independent School College Counseling Association (BISCCA), The College Board, the ACT, and Scoir.
• Community Participation: Meet the requirements and expectations of participation in a faculty at a boarding school, including the following duties: advising, evening and weekend duties, teaching, and coaching.
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree is required, advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in college counseling and/or college admissions and an extensive, active network of college admissions contacts regionally and nationally.
• Knowledge of trends related to college admissions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, SCOIR, and College Kickstart.
• Eagerness to engage with students and their families to support them as they navigate the college application process.
• Excellent administrative, communication, writing, and public speaking skills.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Proficient in data analysis.
• A flexible and patient collaborator with administrators, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to bring joy, kindness, humor, maturity, and empathy to the work and school environment.
• Ability to be mobile in a multi-story building and attend meetings throughout campus. Extended periods of sitting, standing, and working at the computer.
• Candidates will be required to complete criminal, sexual offender, and driving records checks and Massachusetts fingerprinting checks.

To apply for this position, please send a cover letter, resume, and reference list in a single PDF document via email (jobs@lacademy.edu) to: Sean Sheehan, Director of College Counseling please reference “Associate College Counselor” as the subject line. No phone calls please. For more information about Lawrence Academy please visit http://www.lacademy.edu.

Cultural competence is an essential element of teaching and learning at Lawrence Academy. We are therefore seeking individuals who are committed to actively participating in professional development and engaging in our cultural competency programs that are structured to move our community forward equitably and inclusively. We encourage candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply.

The Academy does not discriminate and does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran or Uniformed Service status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

About Lawrence Academy

Lawrence Academy is a co-educational day and boarding school for students in grades 9 through 12, located on a 135-acre campus in Groton, MA, just 31 miles northwest of Boston. Founded in 1793, Lawrence Academy (also known as LA) enrolls approximately 400 students from the United States and overseas. With 75 teaching faculty, the student-to-teacher ratio is 5:1, and the average class size at LA is between 8 and 16 students. LA enjoys its heritage as one of the oldest independent schools in the country while embracing a contemporary student-centered approach that supports its mission: “Lawrence Academy recognizes you for who you are and inspires you to take responsibility for who you want to become.” In LA’s tightly-knit environment, students are supported and encouraged to exercise their minds, discover their voices, learn creatively, and take their own initiative. The academic program is uniquely hands-on and allows students to discover how their education can be applied in daily life.

Connections working at Lawrence Academy